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25/09/2006
MoD rejects Afghan blast claims
The Ministry of Defence has refuted newspaper claims that a landmine blast which killed a British paratrooper in Afghanistan was caused by the downdraught from a Chinook helicopter.
A report in 'The Sun' newspaper claimed that the RAF helicopter sent to rescue Corporal Mark Wright's patrol, who were trapped in a minefield, caused two explosions due to the downdraft caused by the craft.
Cpl Wright died in the explosions in the Helmand Province on September 6.
He is understood to have been attempting to save the life of another injured para when he was killed.
Five other soldiers were injured, three of whom lost legs in the blasts.
According to The Sun, one of the other members of the patrol told comrades that Cpl Wright had radioed the operations rooms and specifically said that a Chinook should not be sent. The paratrooper was quoted as saying: "Their (the Chinook's) downdraft is massive and anyone with any RAF experience knows they would be liable to set off mines as they hover."
A US Army Black Hawk helicopter eventually rescued the soldiers, when the Chinook left the area. However, Cpl Wright died on board.
A spokesperson for the MoD said there was "no evidence" to support the claims made in The Sun.
They said: "It is regrettable when soldiers take their view of an incident - especially one involving a death - to the media rather than their own chain of command."
The report follows the recent leak of emails from a major in the Paras, which accused the RAF of being "utterly, utterly useless" at protecting troops in Afghanistan.
(KMcA/EF)
A report in 'The Sun' newspaper claimed that the RAF helicopter sent to rescue Corporal Mark Wright's patrol, who were trapped in a minefield, caused two explosions due to the downdraft caused by the craft.
Cpl Wright died in the explosions in the Helmand Province on September 6.
He is understood to have been attempting to save the life of another injured para when he was killed.
Five other soldiers were injured, three of whom lost legs in the blasts.
According to The Sun, one of the other members of the patrol told comrades that Cpl Wright had radioed the operations rooms and specifically said that a Chinook should not be sent. The paratrooper was quoted as saying: "Their (the Chinook's) downdraft is massive and anyone with any RAF experience knows they would be liable to set off mines as they hover."
A US Army Black Hawk helicopter eventually rescued the soldiers, when the Chinook left the area. However, Cpl Wright died on board.
A spokesperson for the MoD said there was "no evidence" to support the claims made in The Sun.
They said: "It is regrettable when soldiers take their view of an incident - especially one involving a death - to the media rather than their own chain of command."
The report follows the recent leak of emails from a major in the Paras, which accused the RAF of being "utterly, utterly useless" at protecting troops in Afghanistan.
(KMcA/EF)
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Gallantry awards for British troops
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